Adirondack Thunder to host 2017 CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic

The ECHL announced on Tuesday that the Adirondack Thunder will host the 2017 CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic at the Glens Falls Civic Center on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017 at 7 p.m. ET. All-Star Classic festivities will run from Tuesday, Jan. 17 through Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017.

Adirondack was selected to host the All-Star Classic by the ECHL at the 2015 ECHL Board of Governors meeting in Dallas, Texas in September. An All-Star Classic comes to Glens Falls for the first time at the ECHL level and the second time in the 34-year history of professional hockey at the Glens Falls Civic Center, with the Civic Center and Adirondack Frostbite having hosted the 2005 United Hockey League All-Star Game on Jan. 24, 2005 in front of a sellout crowd.

“The CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic will be the showcase event for the 2016-17 Season,” ECHL Commissioner Brian McKenna said. “Glens Falls and the Adirondack Region has a great hockey tradition and we are proud to bring the game and surrounding events to the area as a celebration of hockey in January 2017.”

The event will consist of the 2017 CCM/ECHL All-Star Game and Skills Competition on Wednesday, Jan. 18. The annual Midseason showcase is attended by representatives from the National Hockey League and the American Hockey League and it has produced more than 60 players who have gone on to play in the NHL, including 46 since 2002 when the format was changed to feature younger prospects. The past 10 ECHL All-Star Games have generated more than $1 million each for the local economy as guests, players, coaches and fans occupy hundreds of hotel rooms and spend three days in the host city. The 2017 All-Star festivities will also include the official induction ceremony for the 10th class of the ECHL Hall of Fame.

“The entire Adirondack Thunder organization is thrilled to have earned the privilege of hosting this prestigious event for the enjoyment of our local fans and sponsors and to be able to shine a spotlight on Glens Falls and the Adirondack region for millions of television viewers throughout North America,” Adirondack Thunder President Brian Petrovek said. “We’re particularly grateful for the generous support provided by the event’s title sponsor, CCM and by our partner, I Love NY, which will make this event possible. This is truly an exciting and unique opportunity for two generations of loyal supporters to celebrate 35 years of professional hockey at the Glens Falls Civic Center during our 2016-17 ECHL season.”

CCM, which has a rich history of equipping the best hockey players in the world, is the title sponsor of the 2017 All-Star Classic and has had a relationship with the ECHL’s All-Star property since the 2009-10 season. CCM signed Hall of Fame legend King Clancy in 1936 as its first official spokesman. Since then, CCM has been represented by a list of hockey legends including Paul Henderson, Darryl Sittler, Mark Messier, and current NHL superstars such as Carey Price, Sidney Crosby, Pavel Datsyuk, John Tavares, and Connor McDavid. With the help of constant research and product testing by the best hockey players in the world, CCM has built products from the inside out – high-quality, intuitive equipment that becomes an extension of the athletes themselves.

“We are thrilled to be the title sponsor of the 2017 All-Star Classic,” JC Bergeron, Director of Sports Marketing at CCM Hockey said. “This event is the perfect stage to showcase the talent of ECHL players all while bringing together the local hockey community. We feel privileged to be a part of it.”

I Love NY is the guide to exploring all that the State of New York has to offer. Great adventures and cultural treasures visitors to the state you on beaches, mountains, farms, rivers, wine trails, country lanes, and city sidewalks throughout the State of New York. The CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic adds to the plethora of things to do in the Empire State and I Love NY will help the Thunder in its efforts to promote and deliver this world class event to the Adirondack region.

“We are excited to welcome the CCM/ECHL All Star Classic to Upstate New York in 2017 and to offer yet another reason for residents and tourists to visit the state’s Adirondack Region,” Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Howard Zemsky said. “We look forward to inviting travelers and hockey enthusiasts from all over to witness some of the best competition the sport has to offer. Congratulations to Adirondack Thunder for securing the host venue for the All-Star Classic in Upstate New York.”

At today’s press conference, the official logo of the 2017 CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic was displayed, created by Black Dog Designs, a local branding and advertising company. The event logo will be integrated into All-Star Classic platforms leading up to the event in 2017.

Ticket information and availability, along with sponsorship opportunities, will be announced at a later date. Adirondack Thunder season ticket holders and sponsors for the 2016-17 season will have priority prior to public sale. For all the up-to-date information on the 2017 CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic, visit ECHLThunder.com.

About the ECHL

Began in 1988-89 with five teams in four states, the ECHL has grown into a coast-to-coast league with 28 teams in 21 states and one Canadian province for its 28th season in 2015-16. There have been 579 players who have started their career in the ECHL have gone on to play in the National Hockey League, including 10 who have made their NHL debuts in the 2015-16 season. The ECHL has affiliations with 25 of the 30 NHL teams in 2015-16, marking the 19th consecutive season that the league had affiliations with at least 20 teams in the NHL. Further information on the ECHL is available on its website at ECHL.com as well as on Twitter and Facebook.